The Five Elements of Chinese Astrology

    Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water — the generating and controlling cycles at the core of Eastern astrology.

    Wu Xing: the five elements

    Chinese astrology rests on the Wu Xing system — five elements linked by cycles.

    Generating cycle

    Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood

    Each element feeds the next: wood burns into fire, fire leaves ash (earth), earth births metal, metal gathers water (condensation), water nourishes wood.

    Controlling cycle

    Wood breaks Earth, Earth absorbs Water, Water quenches Fire, Fire melts Metal, Metal cuts Wood.

    Your birth year colours your animal with one of the five elements. This creates a 60-year cycle (12 × 5) where every combination is unique: a Fire Horse 2026 is not the same as a Water Horse 2002.